In Naruto: Drinking Makes Me Stronger

Kurenai's gaze was incredibly resolute.

"Then why do you like Yuu?"

Rin looked at Kurenai in confusion. They had been classmates for some time, though they had not interacted much.

But Rin could tell that Kurenai had not taken a liking to Yuu simply because of how outstanding he was in terms of strength.

Then why...?

"Enough with the questions. Anyway, from now on, we're rivals."

To her surprise, Kurenai's pretty face suddenly flushed red. With a soft shout, she ran off as if fleeing.

"What was that about...?"

Rin muttered as she watched Kurenai's somewhat panicked retreating figure.

"Hmph. No matter what, I won't let you have Yuu."

Rin clenched her little fists, gave herself a pep talk, and headed home.

"Phew... phew..."

After running for a while, Kurenai stopped, bracing herself on her knees as she panted lightly.

"Yuu-kun."

Kurenai wrinkled her delicate nose. It was as though she could still smell that scent that left her somewhat intoxicated, and her gaze grew hazy.

Unlike Rin, Kurenai did not merely like him. No, infatuation would have been a more fitting word.

The reason she was infatuated with Yuu was that Kurenai had a natural love for alcohol.

But Kurenai was still young, so naturally, she did not drink.

She had discovered her fondness for alcohol because Yuu drank during class.

Every time she caught the scent of alcohol, Kurenai loved it immensely.

But that was not the most important thing.

What mattered was that, for some reason, Yuu's entire body emitted a unique fragrance of alcohol.

This scent was extremely special. Unlike the nauseating stench people gave off after getting completely drunk, it contained not the slightest impurity. It was rich and fragrant.

Kurenai was utterly captivated by it.

"Yuu-kun, I definitely won't lose."

Kurenai clenched her little fists and murmured with a determined gaze.

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At the home of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Asuma still refuses to come out?"

Wearing the Hokage's ceremonial robe, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—still in his prime and utterly unlike the old man he would be at the beginning of the story—took a puff of his pipe and asked calmly.

"I don't know what's wrong with that child. The moment he came home today, he locked himself in his room. He won't eat, and he won't come out."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, said helplessly.

"Is that so? I'll go take a look."

Fatigue showed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He had only just finished handling his official duties and returned home from the Hokage's office building.

As the Third Hokage, and Asuma's father,

he had been briefed on what had happened at the Ninja Academy today as soon as classes ended, when the chunin teacher in charge of the elite class hurried to the Hokage's Office to report it.

Inside Asuma's room.

"D-Damn it, how could I...?"

Asuma had buried his entire body beneath the blankets. He could not stop trembling, and his eyes were filled with intense fear.

The events in the classroom kept replaying in his mind.

When Yuu had fixed his gaze on him, it had felt as though he had been locked onto by a demon. He had been overwhelmed by despair, with nowhere to run.

Afterward, although he did not know what had happened, that death-like feeling still made Asuma's entire body tremble whenever he recalled it.